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Accent lighting - With highly functional task lighting, spaces like the laundry room are brightly lit so that you can see the whites versus the darks. However, such bright light does not create a soft mood or add drama; for this you choose accent lightings.

Accent the mood with wall dimming options

First stop in creating mood and accent around the home is to incorporate wall dimmers to light fixtures, including ceiling mounts and chandeliers. This approach is very commonplace and gives you options to fully accentuate the room or produce softer more gentle lighting.

Emphasize artwork and wall hangings with accent lights

Adding a wall mounted museum light or picture light is an excellent way to accent fine artwork; two sconces positioned on each side of the painting will also add emphasize. This can be done with any wall hanging: mirrors frames are nice to accent.

Living room: downlights can emphasize an area

For social areas such as the living room you can both soften lighting and gently accentuate an area. For example, adding a couple of down lights in the ceiling over a living room sofa, toned down with dimming options, can cast gentle pools of light. This can accentuate the focus to this area while providing spillover light to the walls and washing the whole room with pleasant light.

Accentuate and decorate a kid's room with string lighting

For kids rooms string lighting can create wonderful accent to a nicely decorated bedroom. You can buy them in shapes and themes such as: submarines, cars, hearts, stars and more. Not only will this add a nice accent and touch; colorful lights can be used at night for children afraid of sleeping in complete darkness.

The proper lighting in a room can make or break it. With lighting, you can create a soft, cozy room for reading and relaxing. With bright, brilliant light you create a sense of excitement and energy. When looking for the right lighting for a room consider what you will do in that space and what you want the lighting to do. If you plan to install lighting fixtures in your kitchen, you will want to use kitchen lighting that is bright and clean. You need to see what you are doing without shadows and haziness.

A popular choice of lighting is track lighting. With a long strip of lights that point in whatever direction you decide, it is a great option for areas with a lot of lighting needs. You can direct the light at pictures, doorways, over a table or near a chair. Track lighting is also used for hallways where long spaces need constant light. The designs and colors of the track lighting fixtures are really anything. You will find many options in any store.

A common area that people seem to have trouble with is outdoor lighting. Again, there are many options available to choose from. Strings of lighting fixtures that push into the ground are common. Usually, these, get bumped or run over with the lawnmower if placed near high traffic areas. And, keeping the lights on all evening can become costly. Another alternative is solar lighting. These look similar to the last but are powered by the sun. During the day they charge up from the solar rays even in cloudy weather. Then, at evening, when the sun is down, they are glowing. Landscape lighting is a great way to line your driveway or sidewalks. You can also use brighter fixtures to light up your flag or just a flower bed. It makes for a great look to those approaching the house in the evening hours.

Lighting, in whatever form, can be expensive. But, purchasing the proper lights can add quality and life to a room. So, what do you do? There are several options. For one, there are stores that offer discount lighting. Many of your larger home stores and even some department stores carry lighting fixtures that are very nice and affordable. Of course, the selection and styles may be limited, but you may find what you want anyway. There are stores that specialize in lighting and they often can order something you want if they do not carry the items. So, there are choices.

For all types of spaces, indoor and outdoor, there are lighting options. Consider all aspects of what you are installing though. The cost of the fixtures, the wattage they will put out and even the quality of light you will gain. Lighting fixtures can add and enhance the mood of any room. Take your time and consider all these options before choosing the lighting you want.

You want to read a book before going to sleep so you turn on the lamp on the bed stand. If the light is good and you're far from sleepy, you'll read for a while. If the lighting is bad, you'll probably read just a few pages and call it a night. This is just one simple example of how lighting can affect your mood and what you do. Any decorating plan should take lighting into account because lighting is an important element in so many events and activities.

Lighting has several different uses or purposes. For one, you can use lighting to enhance your home's attractiveness. You can also use lighting to simply help you go about your work more comfortably. You may use a particular kind of lighting for just one occasion; or you may decide on a permanent or long-term lighting design. You wouldn't want discrete or colored light in your study room, nor would you want very bright lighting in your bedroom. You might want a spotlight to highlight your favorite painting, or some strobe lights in a bare corner.

It is important that you realize the impact lighting can have on how you, family members and guests perceive your home atmosphere. Spend some time considering different lighting options before you finalize your interior plan. If you can afford it, try several options. If some of the options are too expensive for you to experiment with, at least try imagining it. Remember: not all that shines is good lighting.

Many people cannot immediately identify why they may like or dislike a particular room or interior. Proper lighting and illumination is the single most critical factor in designing a pleasing interior environment. A successful lighting design is pleasing to the eye, focuses attention on key room features and eliminates shadows and "hot spots". There are several lighting applications that can be used to meet specific lighting needs or to achieve a desired special effect.

GENERAL or AMBIENT LIGHTING refers to an even overall level of light provided to make a room or space comfortable and safe for its intended use. Recessed lighting is very popular as a general lighting source. Recessed lighting may be in the form of 3" to 8" diameter "can" type fixtures consisting of a "trim" and a "housing. Recessed "trims" are the visible portion of the recessed light fixture and are available in hundreds of styles and colors to control the spread of light, reflect the light and/or match a particular decor or theme. The "housing" is the actual enclosure that is installed into the attic and connected to the power system. Different housings are available for new construction and remodel construction where attic access is difficult. Where recessed lighting may be in contact with building insulation, an "IC" rated housing is required to prevent a potential fire hazard. In may office environments, general lighting is provided in the form of luminous fluorescent ceiling panels.

TASK LIGHTING typically refers to the higher level of light provided on work areas such as kitchen islands, countertops and desks. Additional light is directed to these areas using recessed, track or pendant fixtures. Concealed under-cabinet lighting is also frequently used by lighting designers to provide task illumination without seeing the source (fixture). Fixtures with either low or line-voltage halogen or xenon bulbs provide a whiter, warmer light than fluorescent under-cabinet lighting. 5 watt xenon or halogen lamps spaced 6 inches apart are suitable for most task lighting purposes where the fixture is within 24" of the work surface. Whether recessed, track or under-cabinet style, low voltage halogen or xenon lighting fixtures are smaller than line voltage lighting but require a transformer to change the voltage from 120 volt to 12 volt. The transformer is included inside many low voltage fixtures but is also sometimes separate depending on the particular fixture and style.

ACCENT LIGHTING. To be effective, accent lighting should be approximately four times the level of ambient (background) light in an area. Focusing light on an "accented object" or "area" draws attention to a picture, vase or other focal point. Here again. Halogen lighting type fixtures provide a whiter, brighter appearance than standard incandescent or fluorescent type fixtures. The selected fixture should be directional, either a swivel or gimbal type fixture to aim the light exactly where it is needed. Adjustable surface mount fixtures, track fixtures and even recessed style fixtures are available with "aimability" in mind. For a dramatic museum-type effect, some fixtures can include a focusing lens for pinpoint accuracy. The "Lighting Illumination" PDF attached to this file is a good guide for estimating the illumination or brightness of various bulb types and wattages.

WALL WASHING is a type of Accent Lighting that creates an area of uniform illumination that may desirable for a series of photos or artwork. Wall Washing reduces the texture of the wall surface. Often the reflected light can create ambient light in the remainder of the room that is pleasing and restful. WALL GRAZING is opposite from Wall Washing in that it creates a dramatic highlight and shadow effect on surfaces such as draperies, stone or brick. Ceiling light fixtures for Wall Grazing are placed closer to the wall than Wall Washing in order to highlight the three-dimensional effect.

DISPLAY LIGHTING consists of small low voltage lighting fixtures to illuminate cabinets displaying keepsakes, ornaments, dinnerware etc. Many under-cabinet fixtures (as described above) are suitable for display lighting. Small space xenon fixtures used on a "Mini" or "Linear" track have unparalleled design flexibility. Tiny fixtures may be spaced anywhere along the track making it possible to create an even distribution or highlight task areas. Lamp choices from 3W to 20W allow illumination levels from a subtle glow to a brilliantly lit area. A "Light Baffle" often serves as a holder for the track and as a visual shield, concealing the halogen or xenon bulbs. An innovative use of the baffle is as a rigid support, such as spanning the edge.

COVE LIGHTING gives a room a more open appearance by illuminating the perimeter of the room where the walls meet the ceiling. A large crown mold or soffit is built around the perimeter of the room providing a concealed space for a continuous halogen or xenon track lighting. Cove lighting looks best with a smooth, even wash of light. Fixtures should be placed at least 4" from the wall with 6" to 9" being ideal to minimize scalloping. The ceiling height above the lamps should be not more than twice the distance from the wall. The lamp spacing and wattage will depend on distance and brightness level desired. For a medium light level, a good starting point is with 5-watt lamps spaced 6" on center, with a track spaced 6" from the wall and 10" from the ceiling. From this reference point you can design the light level up or down as desired. A room with a dark ceiling, or a brightly lit room may need a higher light level.

Lighting that is thoughtfully considered can make a world of difference and will be an improvement that lasts for many years. Many home improvement stores include sample displays of the various lighting systems and fixtures mentioned above. As with most appliances and electronics, there is a wide variety in the quality of lighting fixtures available. Be sure your purchase is from reputable well known company with fixtures that are either UL or ETC listed. There are numerous online retailers that offer name brand fixtures delivered to your door at very competitive prices.